Earlier this week our editor-in-chief William Lee Adams had the chance to talk with The Voice of Italy winner Elhaida Dani. As all you Eurovision fans know, she will represent Albania in the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna. Adorable, honest and energetic, she talks about why she wanted to represent Albania in Eurovision, the process of creating her song “I’m Alive”, how she reacted to the critical response to her original song “Diell”, serving on the jury of Agon Channel Italy’s show “Chance”, and her ambgiuously gendered cat. She’s a woman with a voice and a personality, and we were left completely and utterly in love.
“I’ve always imagined myself on that stage,” she says, noting that she has been watching Eurovision ever since Albania’s debut. And while she’ll sing in English at ESC — she wanted to reach as many people with her message as she could — she has a special treat for all of her fans at home. “The Albanian version is already ready,” she says.
All Elhaida Dani wanted was to create a good song with the composers Zzap & Chriss & lyricist Sokol Marsi. Before “I’m Alive” was revealed to the public, she tried not to think of the public response. Naturally these thoughts eventually crept into her mind. “Just three hours before releasing the song, I was so emotional, so, so scared,” she says. Fortunately the public embraced it. Elhaida was really happy when she received so many positive responses.
Interview: Elhaida Dani (Albania 2015)
Ahead of the interview we asked our readers for questions using the hashtag #AskElhaida, and we received quite a few responses. We posed the following to her.
I know you love cats, but what is your favorite breed? #AskElhaida
— Marina #teamElhaida (@lovelhaida) March 25, 2015
#AskElhaida what are the differences between The Voice and FiK? Which of them did you enjoy the most?
— Chiara #ImAlive (@Chiara_ESC) March 25, 2015
Make sure you watch our interview to find out more about the Albanian representative, Elhaida Dani. The Italian version of her song will also be released soon, so watch this space.
“I’m Alive” is now available for purchase on iTunes here and you can listen to it on Deezer here.
Elhaida Dani will compete in the first semi-final of Eurovision 2015 on May 19.
My 2nd place! I love her and her song and her voice 🙂
The winner!
Tirana 2016.
AND THE WINNER IS …
Awesome song, my top 3 with Estonia and FYROM
My favourite song this year!! #TeamElhaida
Horrible song plenty of screams. I hope it will fail
Elhaida is so charming. I love her positive attitude and the way she sees her participation in Eurovision as a concert and an opportunity to sing her heart out above all else. “I’m Alive” is my favourite this year and I cannot wait to see her on that stage in Vienna!
Elhaida is great! Her song is in my to 3! You go, girl! 🙂
I love this girl and her Song!
She’s such a sweetheart! I know she’ll qualify and I have a hunch she’ll get a top 10 placing 🙂
My winner too!!! L.O.V.E her!
One of my favorites 😀
Albania is my personal #1 this year, I love Elhaida’s song.
the winner